The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced millions of people to work from home for the foreseeable future. Even when you are allowed to return to the office, it is possible that many employers may not want to. After months of not paying rent, they will reexamine their need for a physical office. If their teams and company have run smoothly on a remote basis, they may very well determine that they no longer need an office.

 

Even before this pandemic, startups across the country were forgoing a traditional office and operating with a remote workforce from the beginning. This allowed them to open the talent pool wide open without regard for location. Working from home has become the new norm and will most likely never go away. While not having to commute and working in your PJs may sound ideal, it can be challenging for many. This is why we have compiled a list of 5 ways to master working from home.

 

#1 – Pretend You Are Leaving The House

 

If you are required to log on at 9 am, it may be tempting to wake up at 8:45 am. Technically, all you need to do is roll out of bed and dump yourself in front of your computer. However, this is not nearly enough time to wake up and mentally prepare yourself for the day ahead. Also, if you are sitting in front of your computer unwashed and in your PJs, your brain will struggle to shift from resting to working. The end result is your quality of work will suffer.

 

First, set your alarm for one hour before you need to log on. Even though you no longer need to fight traffic, there is no reason to rush through your morning. Many successful business people credit their morning routine as to why they can accomplish so much throughout the day. Second, take a shower when you arise, just like you usually would. This signals to your brain that it is time to wake up. Lastly, make your coffee and enjoy some breakfast in peace. This way, when you have to log in, you are awake, nourished, and prepared to tackle the day.

 

#2 – Create A Dedicated Work Area

 

Working remotely means that you are primarily responsible for working when you are supposed to. There is no one walking around checking your progress or monitoring your computer to ensure you are, in fact, working. It will be easy to get distracted by your spouse, siblings, friends, pets, TV, video games, or anything else in your house that is more fun than doing work. This is why you must create a dedicated work area for yourself.

 

This area must be distraction-free and away from anything that will prevent you from doing your work. This is where you will set up your computer, additional screen, and anything else you need. If you have an empty room in your house, claim it as your office and shut the door when you are working. If you cannot have your own office, set up a desk in the corner of your room. Make sure that the TV is off and your video game system has been moved to another room. Lastly, the people you live with should know that when you are working and not to bother you.

 

#3 – Determine The Best Way To Contact You

 

When you are in an office, your co-workers can walk over to your desk and speak to you. When working remotely, there are multiple ways to reach you, including e-mail, text, call, and messaging services such as Slack or Microsoft Teams. The problem here is that you have to monitor all of these channels to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. By continually checking all these different platforms, it will be hard to get your actual work done.

 

On day one, determine the most efficient way for your team members to reach you. At first, you may want to ask them what they use the most. Typically, teams will refrain from sending internal communications via e-mail and leave it for external messages only. If you spend most of your time at your desk, your shared messaging service may work best. However, if you work in a position that forces you to travel during the day, you may want to prompt your co-workers to send urgent messages via text.

 

#4 – Keep A Professional Shirt Handy

 

It is suggested that you do not wear your PJs and hoodie to work every day. However, it is not reasonable to expect someone to sit in a suit or dress when they do not interact with anyone in person. There is nothing wrong with working in jeans and t-shirt most of the time. When joining calls with your team, they will understand if you dress down. For virtual calls, you may even be able to leave your video camera off.

 

This being said, there will be times where you will be forced to turn your camera on. This usually happens when you meet with a client or an external vendor that is meeting you for the first time. Usually, if your client has their camera on, this means they expect you to have yours on as well. The last thing you want is to be called into a meeting last minute and look unprofessional. To avoid this, keep a professional-looking shirt on the back of your computer chair. This way, you can quickly slip it on before joining the meeting.

 

#5 – Take A Designated Lunch Break

 

When you work in an office, you are often motivated to take a lunch break by your co-workers who are doing the same. When you work from home, you must motivate yourself to take a break at lunchtime. This allows you to recharge your batteries for the second part of the day. It also gives your eyes a much-needed rest from staring at your computer screen. When you return, you will feel refreshed and be able to focus on your remaining tasks.

 

However, the key is actually to block out this time in your calendar. Depending on what your day looks like, block out 30 – 60 minutes on your schedule so no one can book a meeting with you. Then, be sure to walk away from your computer to avoid answering messages or e-mails. Lastly, be sure to take your entire break. The actual act of eating lunch may only take a few minutes. You may feel required to go straight back to work. However, that isn’t a real break, and you are doing yourself and your work a disservice if you do this.

 

Conclusion

 

Working from home will only become more common in the coming years. While most enjoy working remotely, it does come with its own challenges. The key is to take it seriously and remember that you are still working. By following these tips, you can master any remote working environment and ensure your career will continue to thrive.

 

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